Multi-Instrument Maestro Steve Winwood
Closes Wolf Trap’s Season in Style

Under a sky dotted with stars and the gentle glow of the Filene Center’s stage lights, Steve Winwood closed Wolf Trap’s summer season on September 20, 2025, with a performance that felt both timeless and deeply alive. The evening wove seamlessly through his extraordinary career, touching on Traffic, Blind Faith, the Spencer Davis Group, and his own solo work, while sprinkling in unexpected covers that kept even longtime fans leaning forward in their seats. Opening with the vibrant instrumental “Glad,” Winwood immediately set the tone: a masterful musician not content to simply revisit old hits, but determined to breathe new life into them. From the introspective strains of “Can’t Find My Way Home” to the intricate storytelling of “Forty Thousand Headmen,” and the jubilant, soul-lifting energy of “Back in the High Life Again” and “Higher Love,” the set carried a sense of narrative, each song flowing into the next like chapters in a well-loved book. A surprise collaboration on the Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out,” with Nate Williams on lead vocals and Lily Winwood joining in, added a moment of warmth and spontaneity, before the night soared to its climax with “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Gimme Some Lovin’,” songs that still ignite the heart decades after they were first written.

Throughout the evening, Winwood’s prowess as a multi-instrumentalist shone. He moved effortlessly between keyboards, Hammond organ, guitar, and mandolin, shaping the soundscape of each song with intuitive skill. On the organ, he conjured the layered, soulful textures that have defined his music since the Traffic days; on guitar, he delivered grit and drive, particularly on numbers like “I’m a Man”; and on mandolin, he brought delicate, unexpected touches that made quieter moments shimmer. Even at seventy-seven, he commanded the stage not just as a singer but as a musician fully in control of every note, every groove, every subtle inflection.

Winwood’s band, central to the evening’s success, brought their own mastery to the performance. Tristan Banks on drums anchored the rhythm with crisp precision, Edwin Sanz on percussion added nuanced texture, Paul Booth’s saxophone, flute and keys layered in soulful flourishes, Nate Williams on keys contributed both harmony and show-stopping vocals, and Lily Winwood’s voice blended seamlessly with her father’s, adding warmth and sparkle to key moments. This Fall 2025 solo tour marks Winwood’s first North American headlining tour since 2018, and the ensemble’s chemistry made it clear why fans have been eagerly awaiting his return.

The Filene Center, with its open-air design and natural acoustics, amplified the intimacy of the night. Each strum and chord, each ripple of harmony, carried through the warm evening air, drawing the audience into a shared experience that felt both personal and grand. Bidding a fond farewell to a summer filled with music, fireflies, and moonlit nights, Winwood’s performance was a celebration of sound, history, and artistry—a reminder of why his music endures and continues to inspire. It was a fitting, soulful, and deeply satisfying finale to Wolf Trap’s summer season, leaving the audience humming, heartened, and a little awed.

photos by Richard Tyler Greene Jr

Steve Winwood
Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
1551 Trap Road in Vienna, Virginia
reviewed September 20, 2025
for future events, call 877.WOLFTRAP or visit Wolf Trap
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